Four score and seven years ago, America was just five years out of Prohibition. You’ve probably heard about it, the thirteen year period during which the United States outlawed the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Interestingly, consumption remained legal, albeit difficult to accomplish. The 18th amendment took three years to go from a congressional proposal to implementation, and the destruction of the legal alcohol industry brought job losses and a decline in tax revenue for the government. From the beginning, most Americans were not having it - or rather they were not not having it - leading to an increase in organized crime and political corruption, and a thriving black market.

Seven days ago, our fickle and fearless chief executive proposed a 200% tariff on European alcoholic beverages to be implemented on April 2nd. It’s not Prohibition, but it will again upend our entire industry. If this goes forth, a wine you bought for $15 this week will cost around $50 next month. Only the foolhardy or very rich will ship, purchase, or drink a drop of ethyl alcohol from Europe. Our importers and distributors have been sending impassioned emails, imploring us to contact our congressional representatives in an attempt to change their fate. Those who have not suspended shipments altogether are facing the impossibility of paying the impending duties. I have written Alex, Adam and Lateefah, but it is unlikely they have the president’s ear.

Sixteen months and seven years ago, we opened Oakland Yard, a wine store and tasting bar with an emphasis on building community and a focus on sustainably farmed European wines made in classic styles. The wines we buy and sell reflect thousands of years of agricultural history and represent unique flavors, aromas and textures of specific terroir. Just as France will never produce Bourbon, Virginia cannot make Champagne. Are we not cutting off our noses to spite our faces? Wouldn’t it be nice to continue to share the bounties of our respective corners of the world? What will become of my many friends who rely on the European wine trade to make their living? So many questions...

In the meantime, we’ll continue to feature our favorite European wines while we still can, and if anyone knows a boatwright, we’re looking to build a stealth fleet of refrigerated vessels for...um...personal use.

TONIGHT...THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: FRENCH WINES - Dégustez trois blancs ou trois rouges du pays de liberté, égalité, et fraternité.
2023 Domaine Gadais Muscadet Navineaux Amphibolite
2020 Philippe Viallet Savoie Blanc
2023 Domaine de la Verpaille Mâcon-Villages Vieilles Vignes 2022 Domaine Yohan Lardy Poppy Gamay
2022 Clos Constantin Unitat Terasses du Larzac Rouge 2020 Domaine de Brin Amphore Gaillac Rouge
Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY 3/22: ITALIAN WINE FLIGHTS - Assaggia quattro vini favolosi dalla Repubblica democratica, fondata sul lavoro.
2022 Al-Cantara Occhi di Ciumi Etna Bianco
2023 La Biancara Angiolino Maule Masieri Bianco
2023 Alois Lageder Schiava
2022 La Stoppa Trebbiolo Rosso
Flights $18 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

With love and anxiety,
Max